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Financial Aid

For Prospective Students & Families

Colorado College offers a strong Financial Aid program that enables students from all economic backgrounds to enroll. Financial Aid deadlines run in tandem with Admission deadlines. It is critical for the timely processing of your application that the required documentation be submitted by the stated deadlines.

Not Sure if You Should Apply for Financial Aid?

Discuss: The decision to apply for financial aid is complex. Conversation between parent and student is an important element in the financial aid application process.

Determine: Visit the Net Price Calculator. With accurately entered information, an estimated financial aid award can be determined. This may help direct a decision to apply for need-based financial aid or not.

Decide: On the Common Application, choose the “Yes” or “No” box for the question “Applying for need-based aid?”.

Yes! I Wish to Apply for Financial Aid

Finalize: your Admission application decision (i.e., Early Action, Regular Action). Make sure the “yes” box is checked on the Common Application “Applying for need-based aid?”.

Timeline Links

Non Need Based Aid – What About Merit Aid?

Merit Aid (Leadership, Trustee, Presidential) is awarded through the Admission Committee. All applicants are considered for Merit Aid and no additional application is required. For the class of 2018, 10% of the incoming class received some form of Merit Aid.

Outside Scholarships are another great resource to assist with the cost of higher education. Take the opportunity to search and apply for outside scholarships.

International/Undocumented Students

International Students may be eligible for need-based financial aid.

Complete the the process by submitting the required documents below according to the timeline:

Need More Help?

Need-Based vs Merit

We remain committed to the philosophy that cost should not deter a student from considering Colorado College. The college administers a substantial financial aid program and uses financial need as the primary consideration in awarding aid. Additionally, merit-based aid is awarded to a select group of applicants.

Need-Based Financial Aid

At Colorado College, we believe that one of the best investments is a good education, and its pursuit should not be compromised by financial concerns. Many families mistakenly assume they cannot afford a private liberal arts education. However, Colorado College seeks a highly qualified and diverse student body. For this reason, we offer a strong financial aid program that enables students from all economic backgrounds to enroll. We strongly urge you to explore the possibility of financial aid as you plan your college education. To assist in this endeavor, we recommend that you utilize our Net Price Calculator to help estimate the cost of attendance.

It is our goal to make Colorado College affordable to all admitted students who apply for assistance on time.

Domestic students who were admitted to Colorado College and did not apply for need-based institutional financial aid by the published financial aid application deadlines will be required to successfully complete 16 blocks at Colorado College before they are eligible to be considered for institutional grant assistance if their financial situation has significantly changed since they entered Colorado College (for example, a student would apply in the spring of their sophomore year for a request that would be effective in the fall of junior year after they have attained 16 credit hours).

International students who were admitted to Colorado College and did not apply for need-based institutional financial aid by the published financial aid deadlines must demonstrate that they have the resources to fully fund their Colorado College education for eight semesters.

Merit Scholarships

While the majority of financial aid is need-based, we do offer a limited number of merit-based scholarships. Merit Scholarships do not require an additional application. These include the Leadership, Trustee, Presidential, and Barnes. The Barnes Scholarship is the only scholarship that requires a separate application. Recipients for the Leadership, Trustee, and Presidential awards are selected by the Admission Committee based on academic talent and potential contributions to the campus community as demonstrated in their application for admission.

There are also scholarships available through our two NCAA Division I athletic programs — women’s soccer and men’s ice hockey.

We encourage all students and parents to read the Financial Aid Policies Handbook This handbook includes the cost of attendance, an explanation of the methods used to determine your eligibility for aid, the steps necessary to apply for Stafford loans, information on alternative financing options and much more.